Annan 'optimistic' about Syria, but no deal yet

A Free Syrian Army fighters is attended by doctors after being injured during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
— AP

A Free Syrian Army fighters is attended by doctors after being injured during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A family escapes from fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

A family escapes from fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Syrian women and children take shelter from fierce fighting between the Free Syrian Army and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

Syrian women and children take shelter from fierce fighting between the Free Syrian Army and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A family escapes from fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

A family escapes from fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Kofi Annan, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, center, leaves the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, March10, 2012 on his way to the presidential palace for a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Syria on Saturday to push for an end to the country's yearlong conflict and deliver a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad that all violence must stop. (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi)— AP

Kofi Annan, the United Nations special envoy to Syria, center, leaves the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, March10, 2012 on his way to the presidential palace for a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan arrived in Syria on Saturday to push for an end to the country's yearlong conflict and deliver a message to Syrian President Bashar Assad that all violence must stop. (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi)
/ AP

A Free Syrian Army fighter is treated by doctors after being injured during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

A Free Syrian Army fighter is treated by doctors after being injured during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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An injured man arrives at a hospital during fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

An injured man arrives at a hospital during fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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People remove a speed bump to allow ambulances and fighters' vehicles to drive faster in a neighborhood where fierce fighting lasted for hours between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

People remove a speed bump to allow ambulances and fighters' vehicles to drive faster in a neighborhood where fierce fighting lasted for hours between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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An injured man arrives at a hospital during fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

An injured man arrives at a hospital during fierce fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Free Syrian Army fighters gather during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

Free Syrian Army fighters gather during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A man stands guard during fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

A man stands guard during fighting between Free Syrian Army fighters and government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Free Syrian Army fighters take cover during fierce fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke in Cairo at a heated meeting of the Arab League as U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. Amid the diplomatic efforts, Syrian troops were pushing ahead with a new assault on the northern region of Idlib, one of the centers of the uprising against Assad's rule.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

Free Syrian Army fighters take cover during fierce fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke in Cairo at a heated meeting of the Arab League as U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. Amid the diplomatic efforts, Syrian troops were pushing ahead with a new assault on the northern region of Idlib, one of the centers of the uprising against Assad's rule.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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A Free Syrian Army fighter runs for cover during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

A Free Syrian Army fighter runs for cover during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
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Doctors try to save the life of a severely wounded Free Syrian Army fighter during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

Doctors try to save the life of a severely wounded Free Syrian Army fighter during fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
/ AP

Free Syrian Army fighters console a comrade after an ambulance carried an injured friend to a hospital during fierce fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)— AP

Free Syrian Army fighters console a comrade after an ambulance carried an injured friend to a hospital during fierce fighting against government troops in Idlib, north Syria, Saturday, March 10, 2012. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday in Damascus during a high-profile international mission to mediate an end to the country's yearlong conflict. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
/ AP

BEIRUT 
U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan says he is optimistic following two sets of talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, but there is still no deal in place to end the bloodshed.

Annan briefed reporters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday after his meetings with Assad. He said it's important that the crisis not degenerate further.

During Annan's two-day visit, Syrian forces kept up an offensive against rebel strongholds in the north of the country.

The bloodshed has cast a pall over U.N. efforts to end the country's yearlong conflict, with both the regime and the opposition refusing talks with the other.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian forces kept up an offensive against rebel strongholds in the north of the country and shelled neighborhoods in the restive central city of Homs Sunday, activists said, as U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan was to meet for a second time with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Military units loyal to Assad appear to have been freed up after finally crushing lightly armed rebels in the Homs neighborhood of Baba Amr last week, and are on the attack in Idlib province, across the border from key opposition supply bases in Turkey.

The bloodshed is casting a pall over U.N. efforts to end the country's yearlong conflict, with both the regime and the opposition refusing talks with the other.

In his talks with Assad on Saturday, Annan made several proposals towards ending the country's yearlong political crisis and starting a political dialogue. He was rebuffed by the president who rejected any immediate negotiations with the opposition, striking a further blow to already staggering international efforts for talks to end the conflict.

Assad told Annan that a political solution is impossible as long as "terrorist groups" threaten the country.

The opposition's political leadership has also rejected dialogue, saying talk is impossible after a crackdown that the U.N. estimates has killed more than 7,500 people. That makes it likely that the conflict will continue to edge toward civil war.

A U.N. official in Damascus said Annan is scheduled to meet with the country's grand mufti, who is a senior cleric, and again with Assad Sunday before heading to the Gulf state of Qatar. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Meanwhile, activists said fresh violence erupted in central Syria's Homs region and again in the northern Idlib province, where troops launched Saturday a long-anticipated assault to crush the opposition, bombarding its main city with tank shells from all sides and clashing with rebel fighters struggling to hold back an invasion.

Syrian forces had been building up for days around Idlib, the capital of a hilly, agricultural province along the Syria-Turkey border that has been a hotbed of protests against Assad's regime.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground in Syria, said a civilian was killed Sunday in the village of al-Janoudieh across from the border with Turkey where heavy clashes were taking place between troops and army defectors.